Entering spring ball the Bulldogs had to fill some big voids at linebacker. First-year head coach Geoff Collins saw his group for the first time this spring and exited spring ball with a positive outlook on his guys.[details]

2008 (Sophomore): Named first-team all-America and first-team all-Region XXIII by the National Junior College Athletic Association following his sophomore season . . . Selected the Mississippi Most Valuable Player in the inaugural Mississippi Bowl, which pitted Mississippi Gulf Coast against Georgia Military Institute, two of the premier junior college programs in the country . . . In addition to being a stalwart on defense for MGCCC in that game, he caught a touchdown pass as a blocking back in a short yardage situation . . . Led his junior college team to back-to-back state junior college championships, making 204 total tackles . . . Had four pass interceptions and four fumble recoveries, returning three for touchdown . . . Helped head coach Steve Campbell’s Gulf Coast team to a 10-2 record and to a No.4 finish in the final NJCAA poll . . . Recorded more than 100 tackles on the season for the Bulldogs . . . Picked up a fumble and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown against Pearl River Community College in the state title game . . . Returned another fumble 81 yards for a score . . . Also intercepted two passes . . . Named first-team pre-season all-America by the National Junior College Athletic Association prior to his sophomore season for head coach Steve Campbell’s Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College team . . . Led MGCCC to the junior college national championship, playing middle linebacker, during his freshman season . . . Totaled 87 tackles for the Bulldogs that year, earning second-team all-state recognition . . . Also had a pair of interceptions and scored two touchdowns . . . Credited with running a 4.52-second 40-yard dash by recruiting web site ESPN.com . . . Other top scholarship offer: South Florida . . . Committed to MSU in August 2008.

Notes: Four-year varsity player as a Mississippi prep. Spent two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College - posted 87 tackles, four for loss and zero sacks in 2007 (11 games); and 117-6-½ with a forced fumble and three interceptions in '08 (12 games). With the Bulldogs in '09, started all 12 games on the weak side and produced 75-4-½ with three pass breakups. Moved to middle linebacker in '10 and led the team in tackles with 110-15½-6 with one pass breakup and two interceptions in 13 starts. Team captain.

Positives: Good size and straight-line speed. Can run and hit - good closing burst when he sees it. Plays hard and gives consistent effort in pursuit. Has played inside and outside. Tough and has a special-teams mentality. Showed improvement as a senior.

Negatives: Has short arms and small hands. Just an average athlete. Stiff hips. Does not play with pop or power in his hands. Limited man-coverage skills and ball skills. Is not flexible or agile dropping into zone. Too many tackles come beyond the line of scrimmage, and he does not make many impact plays. Looked rigid in positional drills and bench-pressed 225 pounds only 17 times at the Combine, lowest for all inside 'backers that completed testing.

Summary: Tough, durable, productive, junior-college product with too many generic traits, although his size and toughness could fit inside a 3-4 defense. Special-teams contribution could dictate his fate.